This page demonstrates some of the exciting advances in technology that can help students with special needs (my Learning Log details accessibility features on my iMac). These resources will help students from all abilities, from cognitive difficulties, gifted and talented, and students who just need a little extra support.

I have geared these lessons for K-6 Special Education students but most of these resources can easily be adapted to help students of all ages and abilities. That is what makes technology so wonderful! If teachers and parents spend the time to familiarize themselves with what is available, they will be able to leverage powerful integration strategies to help their children. I have mostly chosen resources that focus on reading and math skills.

By the way, if you are not already loving and using Kahn Academy, you are missing something big. Read on!

I created this Prezi for English Language Learners and their teachers in Nepal. It is geared to help 14-to-17-year-old students who are learning English for the first time. For a previous assignment, I completed a similar Prezi on using various types of instructional software to help these same students. That assignment focused more on the relative advantage of using specific types of software. This presentation involves sample integration strategies that ELL teachers can apply to incorporate various types of software and technology tools in the classroom.

There are so many resources in art, music, and PE that it's difficult to begin. It almost makes me want to become a teacher in one of these areas so that I can use some of these fun tools regularly. For this activity I created a multimedia Glog using Glogster. It's basically a quirky poster that is packed with links, video, audio, and all sorts of other fun tidbits. I liked creating it and may have to find excuses to use such a format in other areas.

This Glog is geared towards 14-to-17-year-old students who are learning English in Nepal. As part of their curriculum, they also study various aspects of American culture. Because of limited Internet connection and speed, I tried to keep the resources pretty simple, but feel that they will still give the students a good overview of some American art, music, and physical education. This activity could easily be adapted to learners of all abilities and ages.

Simulation software is a powerful tool that allow students to practice using a real-life system as though they are part of it. There are many applications of such software in an educational environment. In math and science, students are able to manipulate data, form hypotheses, and calculate results. Various problem-solving and real-world scenarios give students an authentic learning experience.

I test-drove four different simulations. For each one I created a separate Clarify-It page with screenshots and observations along the way.

The activities are geared for parents of K-6 grade students to assist them in finding fun and educational math/science summer enhancement activities to do with their children. Teachers can also integrate such simulations in the classroom.

eBooks are a powerful tool for Language Arts educators that can help engage students and get them excited about writing. Numerous resources are available online that allow free eBook creation and collaboration without having to print the final product. The possibilities are exciting!

This activity includes a complete lesson plan for teachers to incorporate a similar project in their classroom. It is geared for 3rd-6th grade students, but could easily be adapted for other age groups. I created this sample eBook about Nepal on Mixbook. This site allows students to create a digital storybook and publish their work online for free. Its editing tools and templates are simple and students can work individually or collaboratively on a project.

The purpose of this lesson is to motivate and encourage students of all ages to read. This lesson will be an introduction to reading in and of itself and encourage students to read. Through various videos and class discussion, students will see what reading can mean to them in a fun and exciting way that will keep their attention.

This English assignment is for high school or college students and is designed to take students' persuasive essay writing skills to a new level using social media. It contains three main parts: research, writing, and sharing. Students will select a topic according to syllabus instructions and use three social media tools in their work. Click on the image above to visit complete activity details and rubric.

It’s almost impossible to imagine a world before word processing. Software such as Microsoft Word saves time and effort of handwriting, typewriting, and correcting documents. Spreadsheet and database software works much the same miracle with numbers. If you have a career in finance or marketing, you likely use Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access on a daily basis. If you are like the rest of us, however, you probably use these programs only occasionally to balance the budget or organize Christmas card mailings. In the classroom, spreadsheet and database use among all age groups is thriving as there are endless possibilities to support project-based learning. Some teachers use them seamlessly and well for instruction and projects; others use them merely as productivity tools for things like grade-books or attendance. As with any technology tool, if used wisely spreadsheet and database software can be powerful and versatile tools for learning.

This activity, complete with all supporting materials, is a an engaging example of using spreadsheets to help instill higher-order life skills. Students play the role of an admission committee for a university and evaluate 10 fictitious candidates. They graph and analyze their results and share their admission decisions with the class in a multimedia presentation format.

Multimedia presentations are very much alive and can be extremely effective in the classroom -- but only if used well. Students also can learn how to create better presentations. This activity demonstrates the academic advantages of integrating presentation tools into the classroom effectively. Basic design and attribution principles are discussed. It concludes with a Jeopardy-style quiz to assess how well the students were listening. Click on the slide above for lesson plan, rubric, and assessment tools.

EdTechDidi

In Nepali, didi means older sister and is often used to describe one who works for you, one you respect, one who walks beside you on your journey. I work hard to bring teachers, parents, and students the best educational technology tools out there that educate, engage, and empower. Enjoy!